Bioassimilation of lead and zinc in rabbits fed on spinach grown on contaminated soil

Accumulation of heavy metals in the environment can pose a potential risk to living organisms. Ingestion of leafy vegetables, containing heavy metals, is one of the main routes through which these elements enter the human body. The present study was conducted to assess the accumulation of lead (Pb) and zinc (Zn) in spinach grown on metal contaminated soil, and to examine the bioassimilation of these metals in spinach-fed rabbits. Spinach grown in the fields spiked with Pb (1000 mg kg^-1 soil) and Zn (150 mg kg^-1 soil), was fed to the rabbits for 14 days. Concentrations of Pb and Zn in the leaves of spinach were 39.1 and 113 mg kg^-1, respectively. For the assessment of Pb and Zn concentration, blood samples were collected after 24 h, 7 days and 14 days of feeding, while the essential organs, i.e. liver and kidneys of rabbits were collected at the end of feeding trials. Concentrations (mg L^-1) of Pb (3.28) and Zn (7.10) increased in blood after 24 h compared to control treatment and then decreased (Pb 1.12; Zn 3.32) to a steady state with the passage of time after 7 days. A significant increase in the concentrations of Pb (1.20%, 3.95% and 5.58%) and Zn (10.7%, 6.89% and 18.4%) as compared to control treatment was also found in liver, kidney and bones of the rabbits, respectively, which was further confirmed by multivariate analysis. The highest significant values of correlation coefficient (r) were observed for blood and bones, i.e. 0.992 followed by blood and liver, i.e. 0.989. The bioassimilation of Pb in the body of rabbits was in the order of bone > kidney > liver > blood, while for Zn the order was bone > liver > kidney > blood. The bioassimilation of Pb and Zn in the blood, essential organs and bones depicted the serious health risks associated by consuming the metal contaminated vegetable.